Episode 6: The arduous fight against illegal gold mining

(Baonghean.vn) Accompanying Task Force No. 1 (Provincial Environmental Police) to inspect illegal mining activities in Tuong Duong district, we visited Yen Na, Yen Hoa, and Yen Tinh communes and witnessed firsthand the "technologies" used by individuals and organizations illegally mining gold by digging up streams.

Lieutenant Colonel Chu Minh Tien, Head of Task Force No. 1 and Deputy Head of PC49 (Department of Environmental Crime Prevention and Control - Nghe An Provincial Police), stated: Besides individuals or small groups brazenly digging for gold illegally, most businesses violate regulations in a "discreet" manner. These businesses have mining licenses, but during production and exploitation, they show signs of violations such as: continuing to mine after the license has expired; or only having an exploration license but still proceeding with mining; mining outside the licensed area; and causing environmental pollution in the mining area.

The Environmental Police Task Force (Nghe An Provincial Police) inspects gold mining sites.

Leaving Cành Toong village, we continued to Na Cáng and Chà Lúm villages in Yên Tĩnh commune. These are also hotspots for illegal alluvial gold mining in Yên Tĩnh commune in particular and Tương Dương district in general. Besides being surrounded by rugged mountains and difficult roads, rumors of finding gold deposits here have attracted a large number of people seeking their fortune, even gold prospectors from Thái Nguyên and Thanh Hoá provinces. These individuals use all kinds of tools, from crowbars, hoes, and shovels to generators to pump out gold, digging large holes every few meters, causing small streams to be destroyed and the mountain slopes to be churned up.

In addition to inspections and expulsions in Yen Tinh, throughout the operation, the team inspected inland communes such as Yen Hoa, Yen Na, Yen Thang... and communes located near National Highway 7 such as Tam Quang, Tam Dinh, Tam Thai, Thach Giam, and Xa Luong. In summary, the No. 1 task force expelled and dismantled many mining sites along the streams, destroyed 7 water pumps and 12 makeshift shelters used for illegal gold mining; fined 140 million VND to 2 illegal mining units and 20 million VND to 1 unit for violating technical procedures and causing environmental pollution.

The results achieved by the special task force have shown that decisive action to dismantle machinery and impose heavy penalties has brought down illegal gold mining activities. However, restoring order and preventing the recurrence of such situations is by no means simple.

Lieutenant Colonel Chu Minh Tien further stated: The biggest difficulty in carrying out this work is the limited awareness among organizations and individuals regarding the importance of protecting valuable natural resources. Many people believe that gold in streams and ravines is a natural resource, and they have been digging and panning for it for generations during their leisure time, so they continue to do so. Meanwhile, mining units only prioritize immediate economic benefits without paying attention to environmental protection, or if they do, it's inadequate and merely superficial.

Illegal mining continues due to inadequate handling of cases. In many instances, inspections uncover illegal activities but only result in official reports being filed, with the equipment returned, allowing people to resume mining. This leads to a resurgence of illegal gold mining once inspection teams leave. According to Decision No. 2636/ dated July 8, 2011, of the Provincial People's Committee on the establishment of inspection teams to handle illegal mining activities throughout the province, the inspection and expulsion teams only operate for one month (from July 26 to August 26). Furthermore, the specialized environmental police force is understaffed, and their equipment is insufficient for sustained enforcement.

Given this situation, the Party committees and authorities of Tuong Duong and Que Phong districts need to coordinate better with relevant departments to combat illegal gold mining. They should educate and raise awareness among the people, and especially create jobs for them during their leisure time so that they no longer depend on gold mining after the farming season ends.

Reporters